The provincial tourism office of Bali revealed that 3.76 million tourists visited the island in 2014, an increase of 14.94 percent as compared to last year’s recorded number of 3.27 million tourists.

“The number has exceeded the government’s target, which was set at 3.5 million visitors,” a Bali tourism observer Tjok Gede Agung said on Monday as quoted by Antara news agency.

He noted that the target to attract 4 million tourists to Bali in 2015 can be realized as a result of the free visa policy for several countries such as Australia, China, Russia, South Korea and Japan. According to him, Bali will continue to be the main tourism destination for foreign tourists.

Gede remarked that every month at least 310,000 tourists visit Bali, with the majority of them coming from Australia, reaching 991,024 or 26.30 percent of the total number of visitors in a year. China ranked second, with 586,197 tourists visiting Bali during 2014, and Malaysia was third, with as many as 224,962 tourists.

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It is commonplace in journalism to write two types of articles at the transition point between the year that has passed and the New Year. As this writer qualifies as an “old hand” in observing Thailand with a track record dating back 14 years, it is time take a shot at what may unfold in Thailand in 2011.

The first issue that can’t be answered is the health of Thailand’s beloved King Bhumibol, who is now 83 years old. He is the world's longest reigning monarch, but elaborate birthday celebrations in December failed to mask concern over his health. More

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